How To Become A Regional Controller: What It Is and Career Path

What is a regional controller and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

D. Pace Porter

A regional controller is an individual responsible for managing an organization's finances and financial reports for a certain region or geographical area. They prepare and coordinate financial reports, compile product and sales data and ensure that their organization follows government regulations and organizational policies. A regional controller also oversees accounting activities and prepares both external and internal financial reports.

Although an advanced degree is not necessary to obtain a job as a regional controller, most employers require a High School diploma or a GED and experience in financial management and reporting. A regional controller should possess robust math, computational, analytical, and financial skills and be comfortable with accounting and payroll.

A regional controller can make up to $118,00 per year, and the job market is expected to grow considerably by $16 in the next ten years.

What general advice would you give to a regional controller?

D. Pace Porter

Assistant Professor, South College

The accounting profession is made up of several disciplines and is inherent in all businesses from small and medium size to large, publicly traded global companies. You should have a solid idea of where you want to begin. Private industry accounting, which industry, general accounting or tax; or public accounting with a CPA firm and audit, tax or advisory services within that type organization? These are some of the questions that you must answer for yourself, as well as for the potential interviewer. You should have the information necessary to help you answer those after completing your degree and taking all of the required accounting courses. I would also advise you to focus on general skills such as written and oral communication, technology (Excel and beyond), attention to detail, time management and above all, professional integrity.

ScoreRegional ControllerUS Average

Salary

7.7

Avg. Salary $102,904

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.8

Growth rate 17%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.34%

Asian 8.48%

Black or African American 7.80%

Hispanic or Latino 15.04%

Unknown 4.11%

White 64.23%

Gender

female 26.61%

male 73.39%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

7.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a regional controller

Explore regional controller education requirements

Most common regional controller degrees

Bachelor's

79.6 %

Master's

15.8 %

Associate

3.3 %

Start to develop specific regional controller skills

Skills	Percentages
Internal Controls	6.95%
CPA	6.30%
Payroll	6.06%
GAAP	4.82%
Internal Audit	4.38%

Research regional controller duties and responsibilities

Manage daily accounting, treasury, and investment functions.
Lead effort to document all significant processes to gain compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley guidelines including reconciliation criteria and coding guidelines.
Manage implementation and ongoing compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley financial accountability reporting, liaising with counterparts to ensure uniform application of standards.
Administer general ledger activity, including reconciliations, journal entries, and financial closing.

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